All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

VISA FIASCO - Email & Letter Campaign

51 replies · 6,379 views
over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
We need to stand up for our own rights in New Zealand. The right to watch a footie match where the team line up isn't determined by your opponent's government.
There will always be corrupt & undemocratic governments. We shouldn't have to put our rights on hold every time another country has internal troubles.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Here's Winston Peters back in 2005 when the NZ government (of which he wasn't a part) refused to issue visas to the Zimbabwean cricket team -
 
"New Zealand First supports this motion in so far as it expresses abhorrence of the behaviour of the Mugabe regime, but we are concerned at the perceived hypocrisy when it comes to the question of sport. Sadly, many nations suffer from despotic, inhumane regimes, and we play sport with them. The question is how are they really different from Zimbabwe under the Mugabe regime. The answer is they are not, but because of their size and influence we blind our eyes to the facts, head off to play sport with them, and, in fact, welcome our association with them. All we in New Zealand First are asking is that, rather than posturing and posing, why we do not�for the first time on this issue�try to be consistent."
 
Couldn't agree more, Winston - a little consistency would be nice.
Especially from you.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Fiji are now playing games!!  http://www.stuff.co.nz/4287757a18075.html
 
New Zealand Football chief Graham Seatter is shaking his head at the "irony" of Fiji fielding an under-strength team in a World Cup qualifier - just a month after saying it could not play the All Whites because its top goalkeeper could not get a visa to enter New Zealand.
 
I'd like to hear FIFA's take on this.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Back page of today's Wellingtonian also picks up our comments re the visa inconsistencies. Nice work Matt Maihi

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Today's news.
You can expect to get a response to your email sometime in the New Year.
It was received in Rt Hon Winston Peters Office and was sent to the
Ministry on 26 November 2007.


...and there's me thinking they are obliged to reply in seventeen working days...
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
dairyflat wrote:
Today's news.
You can expect to get a response to your email sometime in the New Year.
It was received in Rt Hon Winston Peters Office and was sent to the
Ministry on 26 November 2007.


...and there's me thinking they are obliged to reply in seventeen working days...


Winston's too busy enjoying the baubles of office to actually work,

that's no excuse for his minions though
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
in the Herald on Sunday - in the article on our news page re getting more clubs out here

>>

"NZF are still desperately seeking compensation from the Government for $500,000 for the postponement of the World Cup qualifier against Fiji after the Fijian goalkeeper was denied a visa to enter New Zealand.

This was initially turned down by the Government but it is back on the table now after NZF received support from Sparc."


Well done Sparc! , the spark we really need is the kind that Guy Fawkes is alledged to have been plotting
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Got an e-mail from Cosgrove:

- Ignored my question towards the validity of Simione's ineligiblity
- Ignored my question towards the double standards of allowing the rules to be bent for netball and rugby
- Insisted that FIFA is in the wrong
- Insisted it was Fiji's fault for making it political

Times like these I miss Australia...

However, he did say the government was looking at assisting NZF. Hopefully that is true.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Thanks Robb. I never got a substantive response.
 
The fact you have may suggest they are pretty close to some kind of decision.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
robbwatson wrote:

However, he did say the government was looking at assisting NZF. Hopefully that is true.
Mmm ...interesting.
As noted by ML this may be significant. In my letter to the Sports Minister I got pretty much the same reply but when I replied and pointed out that they had FAILED to answer my questions they passed it on (see above) to Winston Peters' office. That said there was no mention in the initial reply of any financial assistance to NZF.
 
A change of heart perhaps??
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
More on the visa ban....
 
 
 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4330923a11.html - Fiji scouts banned from NZ 
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I love it how it is referred to as "an often erratic ban". Shows the media also think its horses' bottom.
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